Spark-plug for internal-combustion engines.



R. D. LOOSE.

SPARK PLUG FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED JAN. I8,I915.

1,191,603. PatentedJuly18,I916.

ROBERT 'D. LOOSE, FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

SPARK-I'LUG non INTERNAL-COMBUSTION Enemies.

pq en l Patented July is}, 1916.

Application filed January 18, 1915. semi noiasss.

' Spark-Plugs for Internal-Combustion Entheir length. This and otherobjects and gines; and I dojhereby declarethat the following descriptionof my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet ofdrawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which willenable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and "usethe same. 1

My invention relates to improvements in electric ignition devices, andprimarily to spark plugs utilized as a part of the modern electricalsystem of an. internal 1 sulatedflplectrodef or 'electrodes'attached toand prQ ectmg from the bushing 1, to which combustion or gasolene motor.I v The object of my invention is the produc-v tion of a spark-plughaving insulated and noninsulated electrodes within'the cy'linder orcylinders of an engine of the class described, between which electrodesthere is a varying degree of separation, so that an induced electricalspark, irrespective of magnitude, will traverse the space or gap betweensaid electrodes at some point of advantages I accomplish by the meanshereinafter fully described and as particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings which serve to illustrate my mid invention more fully,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spark plug constructed in accordancewith, my invention. Fig. 2 isa fragmental side View of a spark plug.provided with a single pair of my improved electrodes. Fig. 3 is aninner end view of the form shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar toFig. 2 illustrating a somewhat diflerently shaped grounded electrode.Fig. 5 is van lnner end viewof the form shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is aninner .end view of a spark plug provided with three equi-distantgrounded electrodes. F g. 7 is an inner end view of a spark lug providedwith four characters or symbols of reference in all the figures of thedrawings.

In Fig. l, I illustrate a conventional type of spark plug having ahollow metal bushing 1 threaded on its lower or inner end por- .trode 8.

site side of-electrode 8 and likewise non-- tion 2- for. engagement incorresponding screw threads in the opening in the-motor cylinder andprovided with ,a hexagonal 'or similarly shaped head 3, adapted to be angripped by a turning wrench, an insulator 4 of porcelain, micaor othersuitable material,

a threaded gland 5 .for suitably clamping the insulator within thebushing, a spindle 6 extendingcentrally longitudinally through thebushing and I having its outer project- 1ng end provided with'a terminal7 to which the bushing of thespark plug and forms the insulatedelectrodeflof the device.

It 1s, however, tothe grounded or. non-inmy invention is particularlydirected, and in one of the exemphfications thereof: viz, Fig.

1,oneof the said nonainsulated or grounded electrodes consists of adepending, inwardly curved member 9, havin its upper end aflixed to thelower face 0 the bushing and its lower end rebent to produce .areentrant member 10, which member extends upwardly but dive'r ingly fromthe insulated elecocated preferably on the oppoinsulated, and attachedto the lower face of thebushing 1, I-provide an electrode 11 comprlsmg adepending member 11*, possessed of a horizontal portion 12, extendinginwardly and closely to the electrode 8,

which portion 12 is then downwardly bent and diverginglyspread relativeto said electrode 8, forming a diverging member 13,

tively, are arranged in parallelism toeach' other and likewise in thesame vertical plane asthe electrode 8, Fig. 8, yet the lower por- I tionof the member 10 and the upper end of member 13, respectively, arelocated nearest the said electrode 8, whereby in the case of a sparkinduced by a weak source of electrical energy, the said spark willbridge the nearest distances, between the electrodes 8, 9, and 11,respectively, at the lower end of memb'ers 8 and 10 and medially of 8and the upper portion of 13, producing two sparks as it were, andthereby increasing the efiiciency of the spark plug; and, it is to beare (59 Lei observed that as the source of electrical. energy becomeshigher powered, as for instance in the speeding up of a magneto due tothe operation of the motor already re ferred to, the induced sparks willincrease in strength, and breadth until. the members 13, 8, and 10 maybe substantially enveloped thereby.

I now desire it understood that l do not confine myself to one pair ofoppositely dis= posed electrodes 9 and 11, as for instance, in Figs. 6and 7, I illustrate a plurality thereof disposed concentrically aboutthe insulated electrode 8.

In Figs. 2, 3, 4:, and 5, I show electrodes of various shapes in crosssection, any of which may be employed without change or modification.

While herein 1 have disclosed the preferred mode of practising'myinvention, i may make such changes and alterations therein as may occurto one skilled in the art, or permitted under the doctrine ofequivalents.

Having thus fully described my invention ll claim as new and desire tosecure to myself by Letters Patent of the United States V 1. An articleof the class described including a body and a member insulatedtherefrom, passing through said body and therebeyond, a member,non-insulated and depending from said body, and divergingly arrangedwith respect to said insulated member, and another member non-insulatedand-likewise depending from said body and convergingly arranged withrespect tosaid insulated member,

2. An article of the class described includ ing a body and a memberinsulated therefrom, passing through said body andv therebeyond, amember non-insulated and depending from said body, and diverginglyarranged with respect to said insulated memher, and another membernon-insulated and likewise depending from said body and converginglyarranged with respect to said insulated member, said non-insulatedmembers being disposed in parallelism to each other.

3.. An article of the class described including a body and amemberinsulated therefrom, passing through said body and therebeyond, amember non-insulated and depending from said body, and diverginglyarranged with respect to said insulated member, and another membernon-insulated and likewise depending from said body and eonverginglyarranged with respect to said insulated member, said non-insulatedmemhere being disposed in parallelism to each other, and in adjacency tosaid insulated 7 member,

. are

4e An article of the class described including a body and a memberinsulated therefrom and passing through said body and there-below, apair of depending members non-insulated from and depending fromtrodeextending radially toward said axial electrode to close adjacencytherewith and terminating in a sharp corner, and an extension of saidelectrode extending divergingly from said axial electrode, thereby producing a spark gap of gradually increasing length between saidelectrodes.

6. A spark. plug including a body, an electrode extending axiallythrough and beyond said body, said electrode being insulated from saidbody, a second electrode depending from said body, near the marginthereof, and non-insulated therefrom, said second electrode extendingradially toward said axial electrode to close adjacency therewith andterminating in a sharp corner, and an.

integral extension of said second electrode extending from saidelectrode at said corner downwardly and divergingly from said axialelectrode, thereby producing a spark gap of gradually increasing lengthbetween said electrodes, all of said electrodes being lo cated in thesame plane.

7. A spark plug including a body, an electrode extending axially throughan exteriorly of said body, said electrode being insulated from saidbody, a second electrode depending from said body, near the marginthereof, and non-insulated therefrom, said second electrode extendingradially toward said axial electrode, intermediate the length of theexterior portion thereof, and to close adjacency therewith, andterminating in a sharp corner, and an integral extension of said secondelectrode extending from said electrode at said corner and extendingdown: wardly and divergmgly from said axial electrode, thereby producinga spar of gradually increasing width between said electrodes, all ofsaid electrodes being located in the same plane.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set niy hand in the presence oftwosubscribing witnesses.

RGBERT D. LUUEiE.

In the presence of dorm FREELAND,

W Srnwnnr.

